UNITED STATES – The Florida Winter Baseball League has folded after just 15 games, the fledling circuit announced on Wednesday.

“The Florida Winter Baseball League (FWBL) is suspending play for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. Although the inaugural season was shortened, the FWBL will continue on with its mission to provide the only US-based winter baseball alternative for professional baseball players,” said President and CEO Mickey Filippucci in a press release.

The four team league, which played its games at the baseball diamond at the Cocoa Expo, was tagged as the circuit “Where tomorrow’s stars play today!” by the organizers. However, nearlya hundred ballplayers are headed back to their hometowns still dreaming of playing professional baseball.

“That’s the really sad part about this, these are kids who gave up their off-season to chase the dream of one day playing minor league ball,” a spokesman for the Space Coast Surge told a local TV station. “They (players) come down here on their own money and now have to find a way home on their own money too.”

Photo courtesy of miamidiamantes.com

Tags: Independent League